NDP MLAs are adding their voice to the call for urgent action to bring up water levels on the South Saskatchewan River. Last week, Saskatoon’s iconic river boat the Prairie Lily announced it’s cancelling its final season, as it says low flows from the Gardiner dam have made the channel unnavigable. The opposition caucus members told a news conference Monday that sandbars have grown out of control because the Sask. Party government ignored clear, repeated warnings. The NDP members say the low river levels could dampen tourism and have negative impacts on the local economy. “This is a failure that reaches into daily life — our economy, our safety, our sense of place,” said Erika Ritchie, NDP critic for the Water Security Agency. Ritchie wants the province’s water regulator to help the Prairie Lily, which she calls a local treasure, along with other users of the river and river valley. “There are other impacts too. The South Saskatchewan River is so important to this community — especially during the summer — and the Sask. Party either doesn’t care or is incompetent when it comes to managing it,” Ritchie said. The Nutrien Fireworks Festival faces possible cancellation because the fireworks were going to be launched from boats this year due to construction on the Broadway Bridge, and there are fears that first responders, like Saskatoon Fire and the RCMP, may have difficulties accessing all parts of the river in the event of an emergency. The Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) acknowledged the city’s public boat launch is currently covered in sand, but says the department has its own launch under the Broadway Bridge that is accessible to rescue crews. “The fire department is equipped with various methods to handle low water levels,” the SFD said in a statement. “Initially, a district engine can perform a shore-based rescue. If that’s not possible, the SFD has several smaller boats designed for lower water levels that can also be used for water rescues.” Nathaniel Teed, MLA for Saskatoon Meewasin, said his office has been flooded with complaints from those impacted by the low water levels. The Saskatchewan NDP is calling for immediate emergency action from the Sask. Party to save the river and answer why the government let this crisis occur in the first place. “We’re calling on the Sask. Party to work with the Water Security Agency immediately to come up with a solution. We need the South Saskatchewan River — it’s such an important part of Saskatoon, now and into the future,” Teed said. The owners of the Prairie Lily were also on hand at the event and say, if just over half a meter of water was taken out of Diefenbaker Lake today, the boat could sail by the weekend as enough of the silt and sand build up would be gone as a result. “There’s enough water in there now that they could give that flush. And we’d still be above average water levels. In the lake. If the lake was empty, I wouldn’t be whining, but it’s not. So it’s not a matter of there’s no water in the lake. It’s a management issue,” Captain Mike Steckhan said. Steckhan says the current sand and silt accumulations on the Prairie Lily’s route could potentially ground the boat while on the river. In a statement to CTV News on Friday, the Water Security Agency (WSA) disputed Steckhan’s optimistic projections about future water levels, which he earlier said would be further bolstered by “above-average snowpack from the Rocky Mountains.” “The current level for Lake Diefenbaker is about half a meter higher than normal for this time of year, however the mountain snowpack at the headwaters of the [South] Sask. river range from below to well below normal,” the WSA told CTV News. The WSA said these details are publicly available in its April run-off report. Given those conditions, the WSA says it currently has no plans to increase the flow beyond what it released from Gardiner Dam last year. -With files from Rory MacLean
